The Domain Hotel

More high-functioning than high-concept, Silicon Valley’s centrally located Domain Hotel makes no bones about the clientele it’s courting. Put it this way: they offer a free weekday shuttle service to the Googleplex, Apple, or any other office within a ten-mile radius. Square that radius, multiply it by pi, and you’ve got an area that covers a pretty substantial chunk of the tech industry.

As suburban business hotels go, the Domain is a bold one — a modern, colorfully lit lobby, thematic rooms with aqua-blue or forest-green walls. There’s free high-speed wired and wireless internet throughout, plenty of conference and business space, in-room work desks with ergonomic chairs and ample room to stretch out, and a 24-hour business center that, diplomatically, supports both Mac and PC platforms. Complimentary underground parking is a thoughtful touch, too, especially in this sunny, car-happy part of the state.

When the work day is done, there’s a heated pool, hot tub and fitness studio on premise (as well as a full-scale gym, free for Domain guests, across the street). Or if you want to unwind by partying like Ken Kesey Sean Parker, Stanford is just a short drive away. For a more safe-for-work evening, the hotel’s cutely named restaurant and bar, Bytes, should do just fine.

Getting there:
Domain Hotel is an easy 15-minute drive from San Jose Mineta International Airport, 40 minutes from SFO, and about an hour from downtown San Francisco. The hotel offers a shuttle service from the San Jose airport, subject to a fee.